Ball-bearing truck for cars.



Patented Dec. 30, |902.

R. V. SAGE. BALL BE'ARING TRUCK FOR GARS.

(Application led Nov. 4, 1901.)

2 sheets-shut L (No Model.)

Fig. l.

/N VEN 70H WITNESS/5S mi wams PETERS cn. Pnoramwa., wAswNawN, n. c.

No. 7|7,!24. Y Patented Dec. 30, |902.

R. V. SAGE.

BALL BEARING TRUCK FOB GARS.

(Application med Nov. 4, 1901.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

W/TNESSE /N VEN TDH UNrrrn STATES PATENT FFICE.

RALPH V. SAGE, OF JOHNSTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA.

BALL-BEARING TRUCK FOR CARS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 717,124, dated December 30, 1902.

Application filed November 4, 1901. Serial No. 81,084. (No model.)

' cation.

This invention relates to ball bearing trucks, and particularly to ball-bearing trucks for railway-cars, and has for its object to provide an improved device of this class which will possess points of advantage in convenience, simplicity, inexpensiveness, lightness, effectiveness, and general efficiency.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved device of the class described in which the direct load is taken up through the balls and transferred directly to the archbars and from them to the journal-bearings without the medium of the truck-bolster.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved device ofthe class described in which the weight of the truck-channels is decreased, whereby the original cost and cost of operation and maintenance are reduced.

Another object of my invention is to provide animproved device of the class described in which the friction due to the movement of theload on the trucks when the car is rounding a curve is reduced.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved device of the class described in which the organization of the arch-bars and truck-channels is such as to stiften the truck against lateral strains and to bring the floor of the car nearer the top of the rails than is the case when an ordinary center-bearing truck is used, whereby the center of gravity of the load is lowered.

In the drawings, Figure l is a plan view of one-half of a truck embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a side View of the same.

Corresponding parts in all the figures are denoted by the same reference characters.

My invention comprises, in general, castings resting on the lower arch-bars and supporting the truck-springs and to which the truck-channels are fastened, castings resting directly on the truck-springs and provided with slots through which the upper arch-bars pass and with ball-races in the upper part, castings adapted to be secured to the lower part of the body-bolsters near their ends and provided in the lower part with ball-races complementary to the ball-races in the lower castings, and balls adapted to run in said races.

In the form shown in the drawings, and which, if desired, may be the preferred form, 1 designates the lower arch-bar, the ends of which are secured in the usual manner at the bottom of the journal-boxes 2.

' 3 designates the middle arch-bar, the ends of which are secured in the usual manner on top of the journal-boxes 2 and the middle portion of which is bent downward and rests on the lower arch-bar 1, and 4: designates the upper arch-bar, the ends of which are also secured in the usual manner on top of the journal-boxes 2.

A casting 5 rests on the middle arch-bar 3 andsupports the truck-springs 6. A convenient form of such casting 5 is herein shown and has a longitudinal rib 7, depending from its bottom and adapted to rest on the middle arch-bar 3, and lianges 8, provided on their in ner surfaces with shoulders 9, said flanges 8 adapted to receive the middle arch-bar 3 between them, the shoulders 9 resting on such arch-bar 3. Such castings 5 are provided with perforated lugs 10, projecting from the lower part of the sides of the casting 5 and reinforced by ribs 11, said lugs 10 adapted to receive the bolts 12. The casting 5 maybe pro- `vided in its bottom with seats 13 to receive the lower ends of the truck-springs 6 and at the upper part of the sides inside with short vertical inwardly-projecting ribs 14.

The ends of the truck-channels 15 may rest on the lugs 10 and be secured to the sides of the casting 5 in any suitable manner, herein l IOO the upper arch-bar 4 passes, and with a ballrace 23 in its top. The casting 21 may have seats 24 formed in its bottom to receive the tops of the truck-springs 6 and be provided on the lower part of its sides with lugs 25, between which the ribs 14 pass and which permit of a limited lateral movement of the casting 2l. In the form shown the casting 21 is provided with a longitudinal slot 22, through which the upper arch-bar 4 passes, and which permits of vertical movement of the casting 21, and with a ball-race 23 in its top.

A casting 26 is secured to the lower part of the bolster 27, nearl its end, in any suitable manner, herein shown as rivets 28, and provided with a ball-race complementary to the ball-race 23. Balls 23a run in the races 23 and 29.

A center pin 30 connects the truck and bolster 27 and transfers the drawing strains of the truck to the center sill (not shown) of the car. A convenient form of mounting the center pin 30 is herein shown as a casting 31, secured between the truck-channels 15 and the plates 32 and 33, secured on top of the truck-channels 15, forming a seat for the pin 30 on the truck, and the casting 34 and plates 35 and 36, secured to the lower part of the bolster 27 and forming a seat on the bolster 27 for the pin 30.

Castings 37 for supporting the brake-beam (not shown) may be secured to one of the truck-channels 15.

Instead of providing the casting 21 with the slot 22 and passing the arch-bar 4 through such slot 22 the arch-bar 4 may be slotted and the casting 21 made solid.

The operation and advantages of my invention will be readily understood and appreciated.

From the organization of the parts it is evident that the weight of the load will be transferred through the balls 23fL directly to the arch-bars 1, 3, and 4 and through them to the journal-bearings, making it possible to construct the other parts of the truck lighter, which will cause a saving in the original cost and in the cost of operation and maintenance. The use of the balls 23' will decrease the friction caused by the movement of the load on the truck when the car is rounding curves, and thus save in the power required and the wear and tear of the road-bed and rolling-stock. Further, the location of the parts and the organization of the truck-channels 15 and the arch-bars 1, 3, and 4 stien the truck against lateral strains and bring the floor of the car nearer the top of the rails than is the case when an ordinary centerbearing truck is used, which lowers the center of gravity of the car when loaded, rendering it more stable, and therefore easier to haul and less destructive to the track, and making the wear caused by vibration less.

I do not desire to be understood as limiting myself to the details of construction and arrangement as herein described and illustrated, as it is manifest that variations and modifications may be made in the features of construction and arrangement, in the adaptation of the device to various conditions of use, without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention and improvements. I therefore reserve the right to all such variation and modification as properly fall within the scope of my invention and the terms of the following claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. In a ball-bearing truck, the combination with arch-bars, of a casting formed on its bottom with longitudinal ribs, the inner ones resting on the lower arch-bar, and the outer ones formed with longitudinal shoulders to adapt them to tit the edges of the middle archbar, and on its upper surface with' seats to receive the truck-springs, springs supported in said casting, and a vertically-movable casting resting on said springs and provided with' means for passing the upper arch-bar, and with antifrictional bearings at'the top.v

2. An improved device ofthe class described provided with arch-bars, comprising a casting supported by the lower arch-bars and provided with shouldered ribs itting said bars and with perforated lugs projecting from its sides to receive the truck-columns and with seats for the truck springs, springs mounted in said casting, and a verticallymovable casting resting on said springs and provided with means of passing the upper arch-bar and with antifrictional bearings at the top.

3. An improved vdevice of the class described, comprising arch-bars supportedn the journal-boxes, castings mounted on the arch-bars, truck-channels secured to said castings, springs carried by said castings, castings resting on the springs and provided with ball-races, castings secured to the bottom of the car and provided with complementary races, balls running in said races, and a center pin pivotally connecting the truck and car.

4. An improved device of the class described provided with arch-bars, comprisinga casting supported by the lower arch-bars and provided with ribs on the upper inner surface of its side walls and with seats for the trucksprings, springs mounted in said casting, and a vertically-movable casting resting on'said springs and provided with slotted lugs toreceive said ribs and with means of passing the upper arch-bar and with antifrictional bearyings at the top.

IOO

IIO

dinai ribs the inner ones resting on the lower arch-bars and the outer ones shouldered on the inner surface to fit the edge of such bars and on its upper surface with seats for the truck-springs and with perforated lugs projecting from its sides to receive the truckcolumns, springs mounted in said casting, and a vertically-movable casting resting on said springs and provided with means of passing the upper arch-bar and with antifrictional bearings at the top.

6. An improved device of the class described provided With arch-bars, comprisin ga casting provided on its bottom with longitudinal ribs the inner ones resting on the lower arch-bars and the outer ones shouldered on the inner surface to iit the edges of such bars and with ribs on the upper inner surface of its side walls and with seats for the truck-springs, springs mounted in said casting, and a vertically-movable casting resting on said springs and provided with slotted lugs to receive said ribs and with means of passing the upper archbar and with antifrictional bearings at the top.

7. An improved device of the class described provided with arch-bars, comprising a casting provided on its bottom with longitudinal ribs the inner ones resting on the lower arch-bars and the outer ones shouldered on the inner surface to iit the edges of such bars and with perforated lugs projecting from its sides to receive the truck-colun1ns and with ribs on the upper inner surface of its side walls and With seats for the truck-springs, springs mounted in said casting, and a vertically-movable casting resting on said springs and provided with slotted lugs to receive said ribs and with means of passing the upper archbar and with antifrictional bearings at the top.

8. In an improved device of the class described, comprising a casting supported by the lower arch-bars and provided with perforated lugs projecting from its sides, springs mounted in said casting, a vertically-movable casting resting on said springs-and provided with means of passing the upper arch-bar and with antifrictional bearings at the top, truckcolumns embodying a sleeve interposed between the flanges of the truck-channels, the lower of which rests upon the said lugs, and a bolt passing through the arch-bars, the sleeve and the flanges.

. In testimony whereof I have signed my name in the presence of the subscribing Witnesses.

RALPH V. SAGE.

Vitnesses:

ALBERT J. BALDWIN, PORTER K. PERRIN. 

